Going up The Mast

7 posts / 0 new
Last post
blair's picture
blair
Offline
Joined: 2/7/12
Posts: 250
Going up The Mast

I've had the boat almost two weeks now, so I guess it is that time.

I'm going to do a little exploring, cleaning, and maintenance.

I have a couple of halyards that don't appear to be doing anything, so I guess I will use one to them.

My Plan is to use the block and tackle set up that I have for my tabernacle mast. I am going to attach this to the halyard, raise it up, and tie the halyard off.

I will then self winch myself up with the block and tackle.

I weigh 165 pounds, and pretty sure the halyard can handle that much weight.

Any input on my plan?

Blair White
2004 C36 MKII # 2169 "Dash"
Pacific Beach, CA

neilroach
Offline
Joined: 2/4/10
Posts: 126

Don't use the hardware, tie the block to the halyard. Use a second halyard to safty the first one. In good condition the halyards will hold a lot more than 165 lbs.
Pretty good idea to have someone on deck for safety and to send up forgotten tools and supplies.

Neil Roach
"Crewless"
1992 36, Mark I
Hull # 1174
Seattle

blair's picture
blair
Offline
Joined: 2/7/12
Posts: 250

Neil,

Good idea on using second halyard. When I had boat surveyed, the rigger just went up on one.

What hardware are you referring too?

Blair White
2004 C36 MKII # 2169 "Dash"
Pacific Beach, CA

Steve Frost's picture
Steve Frost
Offline
Joined: 12/14/07
Posts: 788

Blair,

Now I am as confused as when you first mentioned lowing your mast when we did not know you had a tabernacle system.

I hate going up the mast, can not get any work done when I am up there as I am hanging on too tight. Going aloft does have its dangers, your mast will come down to you, why not lower it to look at your halyards?

Steve

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

plaineolde's picture
plaineolde
Offline
Joined: 11/4/08
Posts: 753

I hate going up the mast and avoid it whenever possible. However, when I go up, there are a couple things I do for safety.

Clip my bosun's chair on to the main halyard and tape the shackle closed. A sailor was killed at a nearby marina when his shackle opened and he fell to the deck. Enough warning for me.

I tie off a 2nd halyard (spinnaker or jib) to the base of the mast. I have a piece of line about a foot long tied to the bosuns chair. I attach that line to the 2nd halyard with a rolling hitch, that can be slid along the spinnaker halyard as I go up. If the main halyard comes off the winch or otherwise lets go, I'll fetch up on the 2nd line.

I think my wife enjoys winching my butt up the mast even less than I enjoy being hauled up:D

Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay

blair's picture
blair
Offline
Joined: 2/7/12
Posts: 250

Steve, Gary

I have been told the mast will lower all the way to the deck, but I really don't want to drop it that far. I would need to remove dodger to attempt this. I don't want to put that kind of load on the lowering system either.
I would also need enough dock to be able to do this, which I don't have.

I am a technical rock climber and feel very comfortable in a harness, and aloft. If my block and tackle set up for the tabernacle is not long enough to allow me to get up there, I will just haul up an old climbing rope and climb it with mechanical ascenders.

Blair White
2004 C36 MKII # 2169 "Dash"
Pacific Beach, CA

Steve Frost's picture
Steve Frost
Offline
Joined: 12/14/07
Posts: 788

Blair,

If you are comfortable up there, great. I did not understand the limitations you had in lowering the mast far enough to get to the mast head.

If you are a technical climber, I have several tasks due at the top of may mast due, halyard sheaves along with a bent windex that a bird flew into and bent sacrificing a wing he left on deck. If you find yourself in the Bay Area the beer is in me if you want to go aloft on my boat.

I am getting better with heights, just wrapping up painting my house, three story, lots of work at the top of a twenty foot extension ladder, but I don't like it.

Cepheus dream
C36 MK I # 825
MK I Tech Editor No Mas

Log in or register to post comments